Another list I’ve never seen: The top 25 golf courses in the state of Wisconsin – public or private.
Where this list gets interesting to me is in the comparison of private clubs – primarily Golden Age in nature – versus Wisconsin’s incredible public courses, especially including our state’s modern resort layouts at Kohler and Sand Valley.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know, but keep in mind that there are still courses in the state that I have yet to play, including some that will likely find their ways on to this list in the future like Oneida, Minocqua, La Crosse, Eagle Springs, Eau Claire, Troy Burne and several others.
Erin, WI
Designers: Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, Ron Whitten (2006)
Yardage: Black-7731, Blue-7147, Green-6742
Slope/Rating: Black-145/77.9, Blue-139/75.0, Green-135/73.2
Par: 72
2. Whistling Straits, Straits course
Haven, WI
Designer: Pete Dye (1998)
Yardage: Black-7790, Blue-7142, Green-6663
Slope/Rating: Black-152/77.2, Blue-145/74.2, Green-141/71.9
Par: 72
3. The Lido
Rome, WI
Designer: Tom Doak, Brian Schneider (2023)
Yardage: Navy-6693, White-6371, Green-5947
Slope/Rating: 148/74.5
Par: 72
Sheboygan, WI
Designer: Harry B. Smead (1928)
Yardage: Blue-6481, White-6151, Silver-5817, Gold-5302, Red-5076
Slope/Rating: Blue-132/72.3, White-128/70.7, Silver-125/69.3, Gold-121/66.9, Red-124/70.4
Par: 71
River Hills, WI
Designers: CH Alison and HS Colt (1929)
Yardage: Black-7094, Middle-6444, Forward-5856
Slope/Rating: Back-136/74.6, Middle-130/71.9, Forward-125/69.5
Par: 72
6. Blackwolf Run, River course
Kohler, WI
Designer: Pete Dye (1988)
Yardage: Black-7404, Blue-6865, Green-6507
Slope/Rating: Black-151/76.2, Blue-144/73.7, Green-139/72.1
Par: 72
7. Blue Mound Golf & Country Club
Wauwatosa, WI
Designer: Seth Raynor (1926)
Yardage: Black-6667, Blue-6313, White-5632
Slope/Rating: Black-131/72.1, Blue-127/70.6, White-124/72.5
Par: 70
8. SentryWorld
Stevens Point, WI
Designer: Robert Trent Jones, Jr. (1982, 2015)
Yardage: Black-7145, Blue-6630, White-6110
Slope/Rating: Black-139/74.7, Blue-131/72.3, White-125/69.8
Par: 72
Green Lake, WI
Designers: William Langford, Theodore Moreau (1930)
Yardage: Blue-6853, White-6494, Gold-5889
Slope/Rating: Blue-130/73.0, White-128/71.5, Gold-124/68.8
Par: 72
10. Sand Valley, Sand Valley course
Rome, WI
Designers: Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2017)
Yardage: Black-6938, Orange-6535, Sand-6050
Slope/Rating: Black-134/73.2, Orange-130/71.4, Sand-127/69.6
Par: 72
11. Stevens Point Country Club
Stevens Point, WI
Designer: Unknown (1927), Larry Packard (1968), Craig Haltom (2018)
Yardage: Black-6901, Blue-6567, White-6167
Slope/Rating: Black-133/73.4, Blue-129/72.0, White-125/69.9
Par: 72
Kenosha, WI
Designer: Donald Ross (1921)
Yardage: Blue-6530, White-6277, Gold-5680, Red-5107
Slope/Rating: Blue-130/71.9, White-127/70.8, Gold-122/67.9, Red-121/69.4
Par: 70
13. Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes course
Rome, WI
Designer: David McLay Kidd (2018)
Yardage: Black-6988, Orange-6587, Sand-5975
Slope/Rating: Black-132/72.4, Orange-124/70.5, Sand-117/68.0
Par: 73
Green Bay, WI
Designer: Dick Nugent (1995)
Yardage: Black-7097, Blue-6697, Gold-6272
Slope/Rating: Black-141/74.2, Blue-135/71.9, Gold-131/70.3
Par: 72
West Bend, WI
Designer: William Langford
Yardage: Black-6785, Blue-6516, White-5639, Red-5372
Slope/Rating: Black-135/72.5, Blue-132/71.5, White-124/67, Red-125/71.2Par: 72
16. Blackwolf Run, Meadow Valleys course
Kohler, WI
Designer: Pete Dye (1998)
Yardage: Black-7165, Blue-6735, White-6236
Slope/Rating: Black-144/74.6, Blue-138/72.6, White-132/72.1
Par: 72
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Designer: Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry (2008)
Yardage: Quartzite-7414, Granite-6953, Shale-6393
Slope/Rating: Quartzite-141/76.5, Granite-135/74.5, Shale-134/70.8
Par: 72
Oconomowoc, WI
Designer: Alex Smith (1896), Craig Haltom (2020)
Yardage: Black-6906, Blue-6321, White-5870
Slope/Rating: Black-135/73.2, Blue-129/70.5, White-125/68.5
Par: 71
19. Whistling Straits, Irish course
Haven, WI
Designer: Pete Dye (2000)
Yardage: Black-7201, Blue-6750, Green-6366
Slope/Rating: Black-146/75.6, Blue-141/73.5, Green-137/72.0
Par: 72
20. The Club at Strawberry Creek
Kenosha, WI
Designers: Rick Jacobson (2006)
Yardage: Black-7113, Gold-6658, Blue-6157, White-5648, Green-5098
Slope/Rating: Black-136/74.8, Gold-131/72.8, Blue-126/70.5, White-122/68.2, Green-121/70.1
Par: 72
Mequon, WI
Designer: William Langford & Theodore Moreau (1922)
Yardage: Blue-6765, White-6381, Gold-5806
Slope/Rating: Blue-130/72.9, White-125/71.0, Gold-121/68.5
Par: 70
Menasha, WI
Designer: Leonard Macomber
Yardage: Black-6530, Combo-6201, White-5794
Slope/Rating: Black-132/71.2, Combo-129/69.7, White-125/67.9
Par: 70
23. University Ridge Golf Club
Verona, WI
Designer: Robert Trent Jones, Jr. (1991)
Yardage: Black-7259, Blue-6610, White-6053
Slope/Rating: Black-144/74.9, Blue-139/72.0, White-129/69.3
Par: 72
Menomonee Falls, WI
Designer: John Barr (1929)
Yardage: Black-6,715, Blue-6,424, White-6,208
Slope/Rating: Black-133/73.2, Blue-130/71.9, White-127/70.7
Par: 71
25. Geneva National, Player course
Lake Geneva, WI
Designer: Gary Player (1991)
Yardage: Black-7008, Gold-6417, White-6014
Slope/Rating: Black-141/74.3, Gold-133/71.5, White-130/69.7
Par: 72
I know there are many reasons for no courses north of Stevens Point making the list, population and growing season are two, and arguably just not being good enough a third, but it would still be nice seeing northern Wisconsin represented. Can I suggest having a Northern Wisconsin section under Golf Destinations?
Hi Scott, the key reason for this is that I haven’t played them. I would love to get to Minocqua Country Club this season, though, as well as St. Germain (their new putting course looks awesome, too!), Timber Ridge, Trout Lake and Plum Lake. I’ve heard they’re all really solid tracks. What would you recommend for a hit list? Thanks for the comment!
Hi Paul,
I’m partial to St. Germain Golf Club as that is my home course! All of the courses you list are nice courses in my area. Eagle River Golf Course and Northwood Golf Club in Rhinelander are two others. I’m sure you’ll enjoy any of them!
Looking forward to checking them all out someday. If only I could do this full-time! Ha A friend of mine (who’s completed the Golf Digest Top 100 Courses/is a GD rater) played Minocqua last year and says it’s the Tobacco Road of the Midwest – can’t wait to check out the area
Have you done a write up on Sedge Valley yet? Where would it rank?
I have not but can’t wait to. My last time up there I did shoots at SentryWorld, Lake Arrowhead and The Lido in the same day so no chance at fitting in Sedge, but from what I’ve seen there it’s an absolute stunner. Can’t wait to play/shoot it in ‘24 and can see it starting out very high!